Gutter, gutter assemblies and components therefor

Abstract

A covered gutter system comprising a covered gutter, mounting bracket and fittings a providing an elongate channel in which to receive water from an overhead water feed (such as a roof), wherein the water may from time to time be carrying solid content, said covered gutter comprising: a) a channel formation comprising front and rear walls upstanding from a base region to define a channel, and b) a cover formation extending from the rear wall of the channel formation and over the channel, there being an undercut portion of the cover which, together with an upper edge of the front wall of the channel, defines an elongate mouth opening along the gutter, and wherein said cover formation is adapted to guide water from the water feed through the mouth opening and into the channel, while assisting to deflect solid content away from the mouth opening. A bracket where the inside profile of the bracket corresponds with the outside profile of the covered gutter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A covered gutter assembly comprising a covered gutter and at least one bracket, said bracket adapted to be fixed to a building and to support the covered gutter once so fixed,
 said covered gutter providing an elongate channel in which to receive water from an overhead water feed wherein the water may be carrying solid content, said covered gutter comprising: 
 a) a channel formation comprising front and rear walls upstanding from a base region to define a channel, and 
 b) a cover formation extending from the rear wall of the channel formation and over the channel, 
 there being an undercut portion of the cover which, together with an upper edge of the front wall of the channel, defines an elongate mouth opening along the gutter, 
 and wherein said cover formation is adapted to guide water from the water feed through the mouth opening and into the channel, while assisting to deflect solid content away from the mouth opening, 
 and wherein the bracket is contiguous about the exterior profile of the channel formation, so that when fixed, the bracket may support the gutter from beneath the base of the channel formation, and 
 wherein the bracket has a rear flange which is adapted for fastening against a planar building surface and a lower member adapted to engage with the base of the channel formation, such that the covered gutter, when so engaged with the bracket, is constrained from movement relative to the building surface, and 
 wherein said lower member has a detachable or hinged connection with the rest of the bracket so as to be able to assume an open condition wherein the gutter can be removed from the bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the channel formation and cover are formed as an integral profile from a single sheet of material. 
     
     
       3. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said gutter is adapted and configured such that, when mounted on a sidewall of a building, the mouth opening is positioned distal from the wall of the building on which the gutter is mounted. 
     
     
       4. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover of the covered gutter has a projecting profile feature for engagement with the bracket. 
     
     
       5. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an inner profile of the bracket complements or corresponds to at least part of the outer profile of the covered gutter. 
     
     
       6. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bracket is adapted and configured to enable fastening to a building, so that, when fastened, the bracket may support the gutter from beneath the base of the channel formation. 
     
     
       7. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bracket is contiguous about at least a part of the exterior profile of the cover formation. 
     
     
       8. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bracket has a latch extending from an upper edge of the rear flange adapted to engage with a projection from the top of the cover formation. 
     
     
       9. A method of installing a covered gutter assembly as claimed in  claim 1  comprising the steps of:
 a) fastening the rear flange of the bracket to the building surface, 
 b) optionally, if said bracket presented in its closed condition, articulating the lower member of the bracket about the hinge point so that the bracket assumes the open condition, 
 1) disposing the gutter section horizontally and locating it to engage with the latch, and 
 2) engaging the lower member to close around the exterior profile of the channel formation such that the bracket assumes the closed condition. 
 
     
     
       10. An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a feature or features of the support bracket provide a prop to engage with one or both of the cover and the channel formation in order to retain the mouth opening at a constant width.